Dubai Marina

Dubai area guides

Twelve freehold communities, from the marina and the beach to villas on the golf course and the new islands: what each is like, who buys and rents there, and how you get around.

One page for each community.

Dubai Marina

01Emaar

Towers around the water, with the beach a short walk away.

Downtown Dubai

02Emaar · 1 project for sale

Burj Khalifa, The Dubai Mall and homes that work on foot.

Palm Jumeirah

03Nakheel

Villas with their own beach and apartments over the sea.

Family villa with a lawn and pool beside the golf course

Dubai Hills Estate

04Emaar and Meraas · 1 project for sale

Villas, townhouses and apartments around a park and a golf course.

Business Bay

05Dubai Properties (Dubai Holding) · 1 project for sale

Towers on the canal, one stop from Downtown.

Bright one-bedroom apartment with an open kitchen and a park view

Jumeirah Village Circle

06Nakheel · 2 projects for sale

Apartments, townhouses and parks at a lower entry point.

Dubai Creek Harbour

07Emaar · 1 project for sale

A new district on the creek, facing the Downtown skyline.

Terrace lounge overlooking the beach, sea and low-rise buildings of the development

Dubai Islands

08Nakheel

Five new islands off Deira, with beaches, marinas and golf.

Jumeirah Lake Towers

09DMCC

Towers around three lakes, across the road from the Marina.

Mohammed Bin Rashid City

10Meydan

Lagoons, villas and new towers between Downtown and the creek.

Apartment living room overlooking the city lights at dusk

Dubai South

11Dubai South

Low-rise homes beside Expo City and Al Maktoum airport.

Arjan

12Dubai Properties (Dubai Holding)

Low-rise apartments next to Miracle Garden, at a lower entry point.

The areas side by side

Area	Homes	Who it suits	Getting around	Master developer
Dubai Marina	Studios and one- to four-bedroom apartments. Penthouses in the taller towers. Marina, sea and skyline views	Buyers who want the beach and the water close. Professionals who commute by Metro or tram. Investors buying apartments to let	Dubai Metro Red Line: Sobha Realty and DMCC stations. Dubai Tram: six stops, including Dubai Marina, Marina Towers, Dubai Marina Mall, JBR 1 and JBR 2	Emaar
Downtown Dubai	One- to four-bedroom apartments. Penthouses and large residences. Burj Khalifa, fountain and boulevard views	Buyers who want the city on foot. Owners who value a landmark view. Investors letting to professionals	Dubai Metro Red Line: Burj Khalifa/Dubai Mall station	Emaar
Palm Jumeirah	Beachfront villas on the fronds. Apartments and penthouses on the trunk and crescent. Sea, beach and skyline views	Families who want a villa on the beach. Buyers looking for a landmark address. Owners who want a home by the sea in the city	Palm Monorail along the trunk, with stations including Gateway, Al Ittihad Park and Atlantis Aquaventure. Dubai Tram: the Palm Jumeirah stop, a walk from the Monorail's Gateway station	Nakheel
Dubai Hills Estate	Villas and townhouses, many with gardens. Apartments near the park and mall. Golf course and park views	Families who want a villa and a garden. Buyers who want green space in the city. Owners who drive to work	No Metro station. RTA bus DH1 connects the community to Equiti station on the Red Line	Emaar and Meraas
Business Bay	Studios and one- to three-bedroom apartments. Canal and skyline views. Ready homes and new off-plan towers	Professionals who work in the centre. Buyers who want to be close to Downtown. Investors buying apartments to let	Dubai Metro Red Line: Business Bay station	Dubai Properties (Dubai Holding)
Jumeirah Village Circle	Studios and one- to three-bedroom apartments. Townhouses and villas. Ready homes and off-plan buildings	First-time buyers. Investors looking for rental homes. Buyers who want space for their budget	No Metro station. Bus J01 runs to Mall of the Emirates, with other routes across the community	Nakheel
Dubai Creek Harbour	One- to four-bedroom apartments. Off-plan homes on payment plans. Creek, skyline and sanctuary views	Buyers who want a new home on the water. Off-plan buyers planning around a payment plan. Buyers who want a view of the skyline	No Metro station yet. The Blue Line is due to open in September 2029 with a Dubai Creek Harbour station. Nearest station today: Creek, on the Green Line	Emaar
Dubai Islands	Beachfront apartments and penthouses. Villas and townhouses in gated communities. Off-plan homes on payment plans	Buyers who want a new beach address. Off-plan buyers planning around a payment plan. Buyers who like Deira and the old city close by	No Metro station. Nearest: Gold Souq on the Green Line, about ten minutes by road. RTA bus SM1 serves Souk Al Marfa at the entrance to the islands. Road access over the Infinity Bridge from Deira	Nakheel
Jumeirah Lake Towers	Studios and one- to four-bedroom apartments. Penthouses in a few of the taller towers. Lake, park and Marina skyline views	Professionals who work in DMCC or the Marina. Buyers who want the Marina's location at a different price point. Investors buying apartments to let	Dubai Metro Red Line: DMCC and Sobha Realty stations. Dubai Tram: the Jumeirah Lakes Towers stop, linked to DMCC station by footbridge. JLT Link electric shuttle: two loops connecting the clusters to the two Metro stations	DMCC
Mohammed Bin Rashid City	Villas and mansions around the lagoons. Townhouses in Sobha Hartland and Hartland II. Apartments in mid-rise buildings and new towers	Families who want a villa near Downtown. Buyers who want a lagoon or park on the doorstep. Off-plan buyers planning around a payment plan	No Metro station. Nearest: Business Bay on the Red Line, a drive away. Most residents drive via Al Khail Road and Al Meydan Road	Meydan
Dubai South	Townhouses and villas in gated communities. Low-rise apartments in the Residential District and Expo City. Golf-course homes in Emaar South	Buyers who work at the airport, in Expo City or in Jebel Ali. Families who want a townhouse and a garden. Investors buying before the airport expansion	Dubai Metro Red Line, Route 2020 branch: Expo 2020 station at Expo City Dubai, the end of the line. Al Maktoum International Airport is inside the district. Road access from Expo Road and Sheikh Mohammed Bin Zayed Road	Dubai South
Arjan	Studios and one- to three-bedroom apartments. Low- and mid-rise buildings with ground-floor shops. Ready homes and off-plan buildings	First-time buyers. Investors looking for rental homes. Families who want the Al Barsha South schools close	No Metro station. RTA bus routes F36 and F37 serve the district. Nearest Red Line stations by car: Mall of the Emirates and Dubai Internet City	Dubai Properties (Dubai Holding)